Miss Edna talks about the Kendal train crash. - photos by Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

On a recent visit to a quiet town called Kendal, in Manchester, photographer Norman Grindley and I made many new friends and learned a bit about the town's eventful past. Because of how vivid the stories these people told were, and how close they stilllive with each other, we felt like we had taken a trip back in time.

It all started about 10 o'clock in the morning. We arrived unannounced and, at first, had some difficulty finding someone to speak with. The entire community was seemingly empty. We stopped at a small shop with no name and slowly walked in, hoping to find someone in there. There was a short man in a grey T-shirt standing behind the counter. He said nothing and didn't make eye contact with us. We told him that we were interested in finding someone who could tell us a bit about life in that community.

"Well, Miss D shop dis. She soon come, she inna di bathroom," he said, and sat on a stool. We told him we would wait, but nearly an hour passed and still no Miss D turned up. We thanked the man and told him we would walk around a bit and return later to speak with Miss D.

We noticed a path that led up a hill, just across the road from the shop with no name. Curious about where it led, we followed the path for about half a mile until we came up to a large gate. On the other side, were some large goats, cows, ducks and even a few sheep. It was a large farm full of animals, but we still didn't see anyone around. We called out to no response and were about to turn around and head back the way we had come from, when we noticed a figure approaching from a distance. As he came closer, we noticed that he was a huge fellow with giant arms. He was wearing a white shirt that had brown dirt stains.

He bellowed about a hundred yards from the gate. "Yes please."

We told him who we were and that we wanted to know more about Kendal.

Source of information

He chuckled. "Well, you come to the right place," the man said.

He introduced himself as Paul and explained that we were close to the spot where the tragic Kendal train crash took place 50 years ago. It was the worst train crash in this part of the world at the time and is still the worst ever in Jamaica's history. Hundreds of people were killed in that crash and memoriesof the event still haunt residents today.

Paul told us that he would take us to the spot where the train derailed. He said it was at the top of a small cliff, about quarter of a mile north. We walked with him and took the opportunity to ask him about Kendal.

"Well, this is where I was born and grew up. Believe me when I tell you that this is one of the greatest places in the country. There are so many older people living here who are full of knowledge. You can get a great history lesson if you hang around long enough," he said.

Sooner than I had expected, and after climbing a few hills, we arrived at the crash site. There isn't much to indicate what had happened so many years before. The track is now rusty and for the most part, covered with bushes.

"This is where it all happened. People say that the train fell right over the cliff and crumbled like a cookie," said Paul. "But I tell you what. Instead of hearing it from me, let me take you to someone who was here when it all took place. She can also tell you all you want to know about Kendal," he said.

Paul told us that he would take us to a woman called Miss Edna, who lives on top of a hill about a mile from the town square.

After a tiresome walk up a steep hill, that, to me, was more like a mountain, we came across the home of Miss Edna. It didn't take us long to figure out that we were in the right place. We heard the powerful voice of the 90 something year-old woman, long before we saw her.

"Mi tired fi tell you pickney! Dis a di second time now mi haffi call you fi come inside and eat di porridge! Dis time you get mi angry, I gwine fix yuh behind!"

She appeared through the front door of her home, holding a leather belt in her hand. She was fuming and her chest went up and down as she breathed heavily. "Dat likkle pickney nuh have nuh mannas! Look how much pickney pass through mi hand dem and none a dem never give mi so much problem," she said.

We cautiously approached the obviously upset woman and introduced ourselves.

"Yes mi can talk tounu, but mi haffi calm down fuss," she said.

"Dat pickney ago kill mi off before mi time," Miss Edna shouted.

We asked her to tell us about the night of the Kendal train crash.

"Mi nuh really like talk about it still. So many dead dat night," Miss Edna remained silent for a moment and then started to let it out. Her eyes looked like she had drifted off to another place and time.

"We heard about the crash about midnight one Sunday. We run go down there to see for ourselves what had happened. When we got there we couldn't believe it. You have so many dead bodies pack up on one another. I don't like to remember it," she said, shaking her head from side to side.

Attended to injured persons

Paul explains how the train fell over the precipice.

After a while, Miss Edna went on to explain that she and other residents of Kendal attended to the injured, spending several hours, into the next day, at the crash site. "It is something that I hate to think about, but I will remember it until I die," she said.

It was clear that talking about the Kendal train crash got Miss Edna down, so I changed the subject by asking her about life in the community today.

"Well, is not like what it used to be. When I was a girl going school we used to have manners. If you ever look and see how di young girl dem a walk pon di road half naked these days. If something ever drop from dem, dem, dare not bend down to pick it up," said Miss Edna.

"We used to sing songs about having respect for your country and elders. Dem don't do that any more in schools. Is a pity."

Miss Edna proceeded to sing one such song. Something about the Queen and a ship. She was in much better spirits now and soon we decided that it was time for us to leave.

"Alright mi sons. Drive safe on the roads and take care of yourselves. Come back and visit as soon as you can," said Miss Edna with a smile and a wave.

robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com